Introduces one to the important and fascinating disciplines of Qurʾānic hermeneutics, Qurʾānic studies, exegesis and textual analysis. It includes practical exercises in the analysis of selected sūrahs (chapters) from the Qurʾān.

Introduces one to the important and fascinating field of ḥadīth methodological principles, ḥadīth criticism (the evaluation and authentication of ḥadīth) and to the field of ḥadīth literature. It includes detailed discussions on the major ḥādīth collections within the Sunnī tradition.

Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and principles of Islamic jurisprudence (uṣūl al-fiqh), their origins, development and historical context, key classical texts, as well as their reception and recontextualisation in modern societies.

One of the most intellectually demanding subjects in Islamic education. The complexity of these subjects is multiplied by the fact that throughout the Islamic history there have been many different schools of theology at odds with each other.

Explores the universal message and the particularities of the major prophets mentioned in the Qur’an. The prophets are chosen by God and are guided to accomplish the most important mission one could imagine. And also covers selected set of Female Islamic scholars biography.

Diploma in Hadith and Sunnah Studies – Introduction to Major Books of Hadith

Overview

Diploma in Hadith and Sunnah Studies aims to introduce students to different aspects of the hadith sciences. It will explain: the methodology used by traditionalists to authenticate hadiths; the practice of hadith study:travelling for hadith; taking notes; reading and hearing; and the compilation of hadith compendia; adducing and juxtaposing hadith texts to inform understanding of the religion as practice (norms and laws); the increasing sophistication of hadith criticism; and the gradual predominance of hadith texts as a record of the Prophetic Sunnah. These aspects of the hadith sciences will be studied with reference primarily to al-Muwatta, and the six compendia that have, over centuries, retained the widest acceptance among the Muslim community.

Who is it for ?

This course is suitable for students and scholars who wish to have an in depth overview of each of the major books of hadith in Islam. The course compares and contrasts the purpose and methodology of the authors to show how brilliant they were in their works as well as giving biographical account including anecdotal gems from the lives of these important imams of islam.

The Diploma in Hadith and Sunnah Studies – Introduction to Major Books of Hadith is now available on DeepDeen.

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Course Outline

Module 1 – Muwaṭṭa – First Major Collection of Hadith

Mālik ibn Anas (93-179 AH)
Although not counted among the six, this is the earliest book of hadith and fiqh, and attributed to Imam Malik. It has always has been approved and revered, both for its authentic hadiths and as a record of the sunnahs of the people of Madinah.We will cover the history of the text in its major recensions; its most important general features, including how the material is arranged and classified and why some of it is left unclassified; what is excluded from it that could have been included; other, contemporary approaches (in Egypt, Syria, Iraq), to hadith and fiqh; and an overview of the differences between the Madinan and Iraqi approaches to the recording and application of hadith.

This Sahih is revered among Muslims as the most authentic book after the Quran. We will study a few hadiths in great detail to demonstrate how thoroughly and consistently Bukhariapplied his criteria for authenticating the chain of narrators reporting the hadith; how detached he was from any considerations of sect and creed; his estimation of sound hadiths as being sufficient to guide the practice of Islam; and the method, and meaning for fiqh, of his notes and chapter headings. This compendium has been extensively commented on, most famously by Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani in Fath al-bari.

This Sahih is revered among Muslims as the most authentic book after the Quran. We will study a few hadiths in great detail to demonstrate how thoroughly and consistently Bukhariapplied his criteria for authenticating the chain of narrators reporting the hadith; how detached he was from any considerations of sect and creed; his estimation of sound hadiths as being sufficient to guide the practice of Islam; and the method, and meaning for fiqh, of his notes and chapter headings. This compendium has been extensively commented on, most famously by Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani in Fath al-bari.

Module 4 – Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – Hadith Collection with Authentic Chains

Muslim ibn al-Hajjāj an-Naysābūrī (204-261 AH)

The Sahihof Muslim has been served by several commentaries, notably those of Qadi `Iyad and Imam al-Nawawi. However, these commentaries are mainly concerned with matn not isnad, and in important respects they failed to understand the methodology and technical critique deployed by Muslim in his selection and arrangement of hadiths. Accordingly, neither was able to defend Muslim’s work against criticisms of what he included or excluded. Also, both commentaries added chapter divisions and headings– something that Muslim himself did not do – and, in doing so, they preferred an argument that suits the thinking (and needs) of jurists rather than hadith specialists and, secondly, altered the priorities that Muslim accorded to certain narratives over others.Our presentation will show the wisdom of Muslim’s own ordering of the material and its methodology.

Abu Dawud cites some hadiths not recorded by Bukhari and Muslim. He adds notes to some of the hadiths, declaring them to be weak; while all others are salih. He believed that unless there was formal proof of untrustworthiness against a particular narrator, traditions through him should be recorded and circulated. His collection was approved by Ibn Hanbal. Abu Dawud’simportant contribution to the field of the Sunnah and his methodology in this work will be explained,notably in the light of his letter to the people of Makkah. The course will also look at the meaning of sunnah, the historical development of the concept, and counterthe claim of some orientalists that sunnahs evolved from customary tribal laws.

Module 6 – Sunan at-Tirmidhī – One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections

Muḥammad Ibn ‘Īsá At-Tirmidhī (209-279 AH)

Al-Tirmidhi’s method was to begin with mention of the hadith related to the heading, give his opinion of the status of that hadith, refer to other relevant hadiths and, after, that, mention the opinions of different jurists. At the end of his collection, is appended Kitab al-`Ilal. In it Tirmidhi explains his classification of hadith according to the reliability of their routes of transmission andother criteria. We will also discuss how Tirmidhi presents differences among the jurists’ arguments, and how the traditionists dealt with the technical minutiae related to isnad or matn.Tirmidhi also famously put together a collection of hadiths that record the personal characteristics and virtues of the Prophet, sallal-llahu `alayhiwa-sallam, which is known as Kitab al-Shama’il.

Module 7 – Sunan an-Nasā’ī – One of The Six Canonical Hadith Collections

Aḥmad Ibn Shu’ayb al-Nasā’ī (214-303 AH)

This compendium of hadiths is generally considered third in strength of the six books. Nasa’i gives more space to the `ibadat than in the other collections, and has chapters on forms of bequest and donation not found in the others, though the relevant hadiths are there. On the other hand, his Sunanlacks a number of the chapter divisions (such as on the Qur’an and the fitnas) found in the others.

This Sunan is considered as the last of the six works in respect of the authenticity of its chains of narrators. We will explain the status of this work, the methodology of Ibn Majah and the criticism that has been made against it.Particular emphasis will be given to Ibn Majah’s own arguments, as presented in the famousMuqaddimahhe wrote for this book.